Oakley.
Eva sits in my living room, her legs curled under her as she reads a book. It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m surprised to say that her parents haven’t once inquired where she is. She’s received no text or phone call from them.
My instincts were right from the start. Eva is as much a victim of her parents’ cruelty as I was, which is why I can only hope she will understand when I tell her the truth, but that can wait until after Christmas.
I swallow hard, realizing that I’ve never felt so at ease with another person before. With Eva, every interaction is so natural, so effortless.
She notices me and places a bookmark in the book she was reading, setting it down on the coffee table and looking at me. “Any news?”
I swallow hard, knowing that the mystery of the blackmailer is eating away at her. Unfortunately, whoever sent the message isn’t an idiot. They used a burner phone, and Ainsley’s contact is still trying to track down the owner. He assures me it’s possible but that it’ll take a couple of weeks. “Not yet. It’s Christmas, and I don’t expect to hear from him until the New Year.”
Eva sighs. “How about from the person blackmailing you?”
I shake my head. “No, I made an initial payment. I’m sure they will remain quiet until the start of next semester.”
Eva relaxes slightly but shakes her head. “This is all my fault. If I’d listened to you and refused Dimitry, maybe”
“This isn’t your fault.” I sit down next to her on the sofa, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s the asshole who took pictures of us who is at fault.”
She rests her head against my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing. “I’m so glad I’m here with you for the winter break.”
I smile as I’ve been thinking the same thing. “What do you want to do tonight?” I ask.
She sits up straighter and searches my eyes. “I don’t know. What do you normally do on Christmas Eve?”
“Honestly, nothing,” I say, shrugging. “Never been big on Christmas.”
Her brow furrows. “What happened to your family?”
I swallow hard, knowing that I can’t answer that. Nothing happened to my family, and when I told her they were dead, it was a lie. As far as I’m aware, they’re all happily living their lives across the Atlantic in Naples, maiming, killing, and growing an empire from blood and heartache.
I worked hard to rid myself of my Italian accent and blend into American society as well as I could. “I don’t wish to dwell on that right now.” I smile at her and squeeze her thigh. “How about I cook us a pizza, and we can watch a movie?”
Eva tilts her head to the side. “You’re going to make pizza from scratch?”
I smile. “I got some dough I’d made out of the freezer earlier. So yeah.”
“Another one of your mother’s recipes?” She asks.
I nod and silently stand, walking toward the kitchen. It was my grandmother’s recipe on my father’s side, as he was originally from Naples, the home of the best pizza in the world.
Despite erasing practically every link I have with my homeland, the food is something I still enjoy. I haven’t uttered a word of Italian in fifteen years, yet sometimes I still have phrases rattling around in my mind.
“Did your mother teach you Italian?” Eva asks, surprising me as I hadn’t realized she had followed me to the kitchen.
I turn around and lean against the counter. “Yes, I’m fluent.”
Eva’s brows hitch up. “Really, say something.”
I swallow hard as I realize I’m letting this girl know parts of me I’ve kept hidden for a long time. “Da quando ti conosco la mia vita e un paradiso. Dammi un bacio.”
Eva walks toward me and sets her hand on my chest. “What does it mean?”
I lean close to her ear and whisper, “Since I met you, my life is a paradise. Kiss me.”
Eva’s chest heaves as she pulls back to look into my eyes. “I like you speaking Italian.” She rises on her tip-toes and presses her lips to mine, pulling me down to meet her.
The kiss quickly deepens as I lift her onto the kitchen island, parting her thighs. My cock is hard and throbbing between us as I lift the hem of her skirt. “I don’t think I can stop myself from devouring you.” I kiss her lips. “But the pizza won’t make itself.”
Eva groans, pulling me closer as I thrust my tongue into her mouth like a sex-starved, ravenous monster. It doesn’t matter how many times I take Eva; the desire, the need, only heightens the next time around. She makes me insatiable, and that’s a dangerous feeling.
I force myself to stop kissing her and set her back down on her feet. “Go back into the living room and read. I need to focus on dinner.” I smile at the pouty look of disappointment on her face. “We have plenty of time to fool around afterward.” I kiss her lips softly, brushing my nose against hers. “Now do as I say.”
She sighs heavily and turns around. “Yes, sir.”